Jackson 4.

13 Homework Problem Solution

Dr. Christopher S. Baird
University of Massachusetts Lowell

PROBLEM:
Two long, coaxial, cylindrical conducting surfaces of radii a and b are lowered vertically into a liquid
dielectric. If the liquid rises an average height h between the electrodes when a potential difference V is
established between them, show that the susceptibility of the liquid is
e=

(b 2a 2 ) g h ln( b/a)
0 V 2

where is the density of the liquid, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and the susceptibility of air is
neglected.
SOLUTION:
There are two regions, the one between the cylinders with air and the one between the cylinders with
the liquid. Apart from different permittivities, the D fields in both regions will be identical. Place the
axis of the cylinder on the z axis. Because the cylinder is long, we can ignore the z dimension and we
just need to solve the Laplace equation in polar coordinates.
2 =0
The general solution is:
( , )=(a 0+b 0 ln)(1+B 0 )+ ( a +b ) ( e i +B ei )
0

This problem has azimuthal symmetry so that the solution must have azimuthal symmetry. This makes
many terms in the general solution go away, leaving:
( , )=a0 +b0 ln

The problem just states that there is a potential difference between the cylinders. Let us set the inner
one at zero and the outer one at V. Apply the inner boundary condition:
(=a)=0
0=a 0+b 0 ln a
a 0=b 0 ln a

The solution is now:

( , )=b 0 ln(/a)

Apply the boundary condition at the outer cylinder:

(=b)=V
V =b0 ln(b/a)
b0 =

V
ln (b / a)

The solution is now:

( , )=V

ln (/a )
ln (b/a )

The electric field is therefore:

E=

E=V

1
1
ln (b/a )

Before lowering the cylinders of length l, the region is completely filled with air and the fields have
some total potential energy Wbefore. After lowering the cylinders and reaching equilibrium, the presence
of the dielectric means we have a new total potential energy in the fields Wafter which is higher than the
original energy. Conservation of energy is not violated because maintaining a constant potential
difference V before and after means that we externally provide energy to the system to maintain the
potential as the system changes. This is where the field gets its energy. The change in field potential
energy W will therefore depend on the properties of the liquid introduced.
W =W afterW before

W =

1
1
E D d 3 x EbeforeD before d 3 x
2 after after
2

W =

1
1
2
2
2
2
W = h 0 E air d x+ 0 (1+e )h E liquid d x
2
2
The E field is the same in both regions, so that we have:
W =

][

1
1
1
(Lh) 0 E 2air d 2 x+ 0 (1+e )h E 2liquid d 2 x L 0 E 2air d 2 x
2
2
2

h 0 e
E2 d 2 x
2

b
h 0 e
W =
2 E 2 d
2
a

b
h 0 e
1
1
W =
2 (V 2 2
) d
2
ln (b/a ) 2
a

h 0 e V
W =
ln (b /a)

This is the total potential energy gain in the fields that results from introducing a dielectric up to height
h. The potential energy can be viewed as held in the fields, as we have just done, or as held in the
particles. The particles can be viewed as gaining a total gravitational potential energy.
W =m gh

W =h A gh
W =( b2a 2) g h 2
Both methods are equivalent, so that:
2

h 0 e V
= (b 2a 2) g h2
ln(b /a)
leading to:
e=

(b 2a 2 ) g h ln( b/a)
0 V 2